Don't Pounce on the Plunder

¹⁷ Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. ¹⁸ And he sent you on a mission, saying, 'Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.' ¹⁹ Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD ?"(1 Sam 15:17-19)

I'm amazed at how possible it is for someone with humble roots to rise and fall so easily. They were once nothing. Why didn't they remember where they came from, much less who lifted them up?

After finding out that he would be the first king of God's people, Saul was afraid. So afraid that he hid in some baggage at his own inauguration. In fact, he hid so well that God had to call him out in front of all his friends. (How embarrassing). Verse 17 above proves that he didn't even believe in himself before the new duties set in. Yet, now he is in hot water with God because of his pride. This tells us something about the nature of being promoted.

It's dangerous.

Being promoted can take a self-depreciating nobody and make him into a boldfaced backslider. I spend so much of my energy wanting to "be somebody" that I forget the years a person has in complete anonymity are PRICELESS. When lifted up to a position of note, it is so easy to start believing lies about yourself. All of the sudden, when you once never dared to take the seat of honor, you now expect nothing less than complete servitude by all those who dare to darken your door. The title has taken away your fear. All of it. Even your fear of the Lord.

Jesus used his years of anonymity to reject these lies and develop the kind of character (through the Spirit) that would not allow pride to slither in when the pressure started to rise. It would have been impossibly hard for an untested version of Jesus to resist showing off his healing power to a crowd seeking someone to amuse them with tricks. Instead, Jesus knew when to do what in order for God to receive the most glory. His fame was never for his own glory except when that glory belonged to the Father as well. Why else would he pass up opportunities to "pounce on the plunder" and wow the people with wizardry?

Saul did not do this, and he fell. Hard. On a sword.

You have to remember to ignore people when they tell you that you are something all by yourself. You are nothing all by yourself. Tell them thanks, but add "..for nothing" in your mind. Their praise is poison. You have been given something to steward. Guard it well, and stay on God's side. Even if people call you crazy. Or a drunkard. Or a glutton.

So I guess I have to ask myself: what plunder am I pouncing on right now? If I can't resist temptation now, I will not be able to resist it when people are counting on my spiritual strength.